Mercy, Dragon Rider
Hi, howdy, hello
It's been a while since I have done a proper post on here diving into something and I thought, as I am doing my annual reread of Inheritance, that I would visit a topic that I hinted to in my Brisingr post from last year - mercy. There are several moments that rhyme quite nicely centring on this theme, and I shall break them down
The ground work:
Eragon is very compassionate. He would much sooner not kill than kill. Moreover, he prefers to kill in self defence. He would never aspire to appoint himself as judge, Judy, and executioner (Hot Fuzz reference there) and this is shown in his refusal to execute Sloan - I will get to that. Eragon, despite his great power, does not want to use that power to manipulate the political machinations of the land. He is far too responsible for that. For, after all, Alagaesia does not need another Galbatorix. I believe that Eragon states that in Eldest but he later reaffirms that in Brisingr, bringing this sentiment to a natural conclusion by refusing the throne when offered it in Inheritance. If he were to ascend to the throne, I imagine that he would be as benevolent as possible - though this is very hypothetical. So, this coupled with his natural kindness lays the groundwork for the instances of mercy that I shall be analysing
The instances are as follows:
Torkenbrand
The Gryfalkon
Sloan
The soldier
Torkenbrand
So this is the first moment where this theme surfaces: Murtagh's execution of Torkenbrand. It serves as a defining moment in both his and Eragon's relationship. Eragon is shocked when Murtagh executes an injured Torkenbrand, claiming that he was no harm to them. Murtagh states that he would have been a burden otherwise, and in any case, he was a slaver and did not deserve to live. Plus, they had been seen so word could come back to the Empire. Eragon is shocked as Torkenbrand was defenceless. He was completely at their mercy and could have been left alive. Eragon's empathy here blinds him to rational thought
Now, this moment has been hotly debated - I myself have engaged in one or two in the past. And I think that this is deliberate. Let's break down the nuances of this moment.
Did Torkenbrand have to die?
Did Torkenbrand deserve to die?
I would er on yes these days. However, I agree with Eragon that the manner in which Torkenbrand died was callous. If, in normal circumstances, Torkenbrand had been captured, he would undoubtedly have been executed by the Varden as they would see slavery as repugnant as Eragon does. But, what Eragon fails to recognise is that he is not, in fact, in a normal circumstance. Pursued by Kull as they were, Torkenbrand would only slow them down. He might try to escape - where, you might ask. He might try and kill Eragon and Murtagh as they slept. He might even try and steal one of the horses. He was a loose cannon that had to be dealt with. Eragon explains his morals later to Orrin and Nasuada as he is justifying saving Sloan so I will save that for then. But, this death struck him so hard due to the callousness of it. Murtagh did it without thought or emotion. Eragon is not quite the battle-hardened warrior that we come across in later books
The gryfalkon
This is a small moment in Eldest just outside Cithrim. Eragon comes across a wounded bird in the woods and Arya shoots it with an arrow. Eragon is shocked by this as the death is so sudden. He thinks that Arya could have healed the bird. Arya argues that the bird was beyond saving. This to me is a prime example of Eragon's empathy. He despises unnecessary death, which as we find out later in Eldest, comes to encompass all animal life.
Orik describes elves as "capricious" which means 'given to sudden and unaccountable changes in behaviour'. They can turn on a dime and decide whether you are of use to them in an instant. Or even, whether someone's worth saving. The suddenness of the gryfalkon's death is shocking but the question is: was it the right thing to do?
A quandary: you are driving down a road late at night and hit an animal. The animal is beyond saving. Without your swift intervention, it will die a long and painful death. Is it more merciful to put the animal out of its misery? Yes. Yes it is. The solution to that quandary falls apart when you are living in a world where even the gravest of wounds - besides death - can be healed with magic. So what makes the bird's life less valuable than a person's? Is it that it's a bird? Is it that it is indeed better to let the bird die and ease its suffering? I'm not sure. Maybe because the bird was so weakened, it is beyond the point of healing. Or maybe Arya doesn't like birds. Who knows?
Sloan
Ah...Sloan. Sloan, the man who murdered Byrd. Sloan, the man who ratted Eragon out to the Ra'Zaac. Sloan, the man blinded by rage before he had his eyes pecked out. Why did Eragon save him?
Eragon is no executioner. To appoint himself executioner would be putting himself above people such as Orrin and Nasuada, putting himself on an equal footing to the big cheese, Galbatorix. It would set an awful precedent that would cause a quagmire (that really is a delightful word) to spread in the political sphere of the Varden. It would make Eragon a tyrant and he could not and would not allow himself to fall
Now, Eragon had also known Sloan all of his life, so intimately in fact, that he figured out Sloan's true name in a matter of minutes. That is a truly impressive feat. This gave Eragon the ultimate power over Sloan's fate. Eragon could have had him dancing to whatever tune he wanted. But he chose mercy. He chose punishment far crueller than death. But he chose mercy as to execute Sloan would be wrong. The punishment fits the crime as Sloan essentially loses everything. His fate is tragic as he brought it upon himself. He is unable to:
- See his daughter to whom he is devoted
- See his grand daughter too
It is a cruel fate as it strips Sloan of his purpose. It locks him into the knowledge that Katrina is happy - or even happier - without him. He is imprisoned in the comfortable hospitality of the elves and the bitter landscape of his thoughts
Having recently finished Inheritance, I am reminded of a moment where Eragon gives Sloan new eyes. Sloan thanks him as, in that moment, he is able to at last see Katrina happy. This is the ultimate mercy for Sloan as Eragon bringing Katrina to Ellesmera was cruel. Needlessly so. This was a wrong that needed to be righted
The soldier
Why kill the soldier when he could not kill Sloan?
Simple: the soldier was an enemy combatant whilst Sloan was a crippled old(ish) man. The soldier had sworn into Galbatorix's army in the Ancient Language, and therefore would have been compelled to find allies and tell of Eragon's whereabouts. It was a cruel death but it was also war. In that moment, Eragon had to go against his better nature and kill
I hope you enjoy reading this and I look forward to any discussions to come
Be wary of ferrets!